Fri, Jun 29, 2007
FAA Says It Wants ATC'ers To "Dress Professionally"
Some air traffic controllers are getting creative in showing
their displeasure over a new dress code recently mandated by the
Federal Aviation Administration.

The agency says it is meant to create a professional atmosphere.
The controllers think otherwise, according to the Associated
Press.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says there have
been a few occasions where controllers precisely complied with the
guidelines with some... interesting... results.
The NATCA provided some examples of recent goings-on caused by
the new code to the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the AP:
- Some male controllers showed they abided by the 'letter of the
law' by wearing dresses to work.
- A controller in Oberlin was told his aquamarine pants were "not
gender appropriate."
- A New York controller was ordered to wear dress shoes, despite
having a doctor's note saying she needed to wear tennis shoes
because of a knee problem. She ended up falling, breaking her elbow
and injuring her knee.
- In Maryland, a supervisor inspected one controller's pants with
a flashlight and determined the pants had "jeans-like seams" and
were against the new code.
- A controller in Oakland, CA was sent home because his pants
were "too wrinkled."
- Miami controllers were reportedly informed they could no longer
wear "tropical shirts," even though they have collars, as required
by the dress code. Then management reversed the decision and now
allows tropical shirts with "muted colors."
- One controller purposely wore "an outfit that was not fit for
human consumption" to protest the new code: a purple shirt, a
mismatched purple tie, white pants, purple socks and purple
snakeskin shoes. It in no way violated the dress code.
"In light of all the problems facing controllers and the FAA, it
seems silly that the agency has become the fashion police," said
Melissa Ott, Cleveland Air Route Control Center in Oberlin
spokesperson.
She notes controllers work in a dark room in a secure building
out of public view, according to the Plain Dealer.

"So, who are we dressing up for?" Ott asked.
FAA spokesperson Laura Brown said the agency just wants its air
traffic controllers to dress professionally.
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